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ABSTRACT

Rapid growth of renewable energy sources in recent times can be

easily attributed to various factors such as increasing energy demand
worldwide, depletion of fossil fuels and degradation of environmental factors
due to conventional power generation. Among the renewable energy sources
like wind, solar and hydro etc, wind is the maximum exploited energy source
and wind power generation has registered considerable growth in India and
abroad in the recent years. The wind power generation varies randomly due to
fluctuating wind speed. Wind energy conversion is still possible by using
either synchronous or induction generators. However, this process has to be
regulated mechanically and/or by using power electronic converter
technology supported by sophisticated control systems. It is important that
WECS has to be integrated to the existing power system. This is expected to
reduce conventional power generation due to its adverse impact on
environment. This process however invites technical challenges that require
considerations such as power quality and system stability. In fact, these issues
become very complex in view of the fact that the wind is geographically and
climatically uncontrollable resource.

FACTS devices have been employed to control the active, reactive

power flows in power systems. Many researchers have studied the role of
FACTS devices in power system operation and security enhancement in
conventional power system. But in WECS, the problem arises in the form of
fluctuating wind generator output due to wind speed. This output is not
capable of providing the reactive power to the weak or heavily loaded buses.
But the loads connected to the network are dynamic in nature and the buses
require reactive power when heavily loaded. The presence of conventional
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FACTS controllers in WECS often fails to provide the real and reactive
power support to the critical transmission lines.

The present work aims to find the most suitable FACTS controller
activated by a powerful control algorithm. Such a FACTS controller enables
the system to recover rapidly from the impact of disturbances. The realization
of this goal involves the examination of FACTS devices like STATCOM,
UPQC and IPQC with PWM, FLC and ANFIS controls, connected to weak
buses. The FACTS devices employ either VSC or Hexagram controller.

The sample 13 bus system, taken up for investigation has buses 1,4,7
and 8 as wind generator buses and the remaining as load buses. Only the weak
buses are provided with FACTS controllers.

Simulation of the system is carried out with different controllers

connected to weak buses. The results are examined for power quality
variables such as voltage injection and THD. etc. On critical comparison of
the results, it is concluded that the Hex-IPQC controller is the most suitable
controller for providing real and reactive power support to the weak buses.